Will Facebook’s video update kill off YouTube?

Facebook is wading into video streaming with the launch of a video watching and uploading hub for all users in the US.

The update is called Facebook Watch and is available as a tab for users to watch original content, live shows and other videos.

The feature also spells a redirection for Facebook into developing itself as a rival for big video platforms like YouTube, Netflix and Amazon.

While this spells the start of the social media company bidding for series alongside the other major players, it also opens up opportunities for smaller video makers.

Facebook has announced that they are looking to commission video series covering everything from cooking shows to vlogs.

A company spokesperson said: “Our goal is for Watch to be a platform for all creators and publishers to find an audience, build a community of passionate fans, and earn money for their work.”

There’s money in the venture too with the aim to monetise shows through advertising breaks.

Only time will tell if the platform will stick and be able to develop rival content in a very crowded market that is already dominated by other big names. But this could be a great opportunity for amateur videographers to get there content out there.

It’s not yet known when the feature will be branched out to the UK as it is currently operating on a trial basis in the US. However, you can register interest about creating a show here.